The actor who plays indestructible dwarf warrior Gimli in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy is slowly recovering from a brush with death.

John Rhys-Davies was filming on "La Femme Muskateer" in Croatia when a 12-foot high wall collapsed and fell on him, pinning him to the ground.

The Welsh star, who broke his arm and needed help from 30 colleagues, said: "It wasn't my most glorious moment."

I put my hands up - about 33 feet of a wall falls on me. John Rhys-Davies

He was talking to reporters at the European premi�re of the second Rings movie, which was having its red-carpet showing in the UK on Wednesday.

Ammanford-born Rhys-Davies, 58, is with other stars of the second installment - The Two Towers - for a promotional tour, with Hobbit-mania returning to the UK.

In the new movie, he continues in Gimli's shoes but also provides the voice of Treebard - the leader of an ancient culture of living trees.

Wall horror

But the actor was in Croatia three weeks ago on a shoot for a new movie when the accident happened as a crane was maneouvered into place.

"I was called to a set in Croatia, and they're not quite ready for me, so I just (asked) the guys get on with it," Rhys-Davies said.

The new film is said to be darker than the first

"Suddenly there's this sort of shriek, which means something is falling.

"So, I put my hands up instinctually. And about 33 feet of a wall, which is about 12 feet high and capped with those Mediterranean roofing tiles, curved up; it falls on me."

The falling debris knocked him to the ground, breaking his limb, and kept him there.

"Let me put it this way - it took 30 men to get it off me. It was so magnificent - these guys, these big, tall, tough stunt guys in costumes that are dirty and sprayed by my blood."

"So you may understand that underneath I was a very sad little fellow. (My arm) got broken. It's doing pretty well though - still got the pins in it."